South Bend, IN—The United
States Attorney's Office announced that a Grand Jury sitting in South Bend,
Indiana, returned the following Indictment on October 11, 2012:

Leon Thomas a/k/a D. Thomas, 38, of Chesterton, Indiana, was
charged in a three-count Indictment with one count of identity theft; one count
of theft of government property; namely stealing federal funds through the
extended unemployment benefit program and American Reinvestment and Recovery
Act, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

The
arraignment and detention hearing for Thomas are scheduled for tomorrow,
November 2 at 2 PM before Magistrate Judge Roger Cosbey.

These
charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the United States
Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General and the Indiana Department
of Workforce Development. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted
by Assistant United States Attorney Barbara Z. Brook.

If
convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by
the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal
Sentencing Guidelines. .

The
United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an
allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless
proven guilty in court.